With radical zoning changes across Brisbane, city residents are divided over the changes. The purpose of these changes is to curb urban sprawl, with the council rolling out the “More Homes, Sooner” initiative and a “tall over sprawl” approach, ultra-dense high-rises may be on the table, along with townhouses, tiny blocks, and subdivisions. 

The Sky’s the Limit

The proposed zoning changes allow for high-density apartment blocks in major transport hubs and activity centres, with several areas targeted for the shift.

Carindale 

The former cap in Carindale was just 10 storeys, so the new 30-storey allowance paves the way for major development in the Westfield Carindale region. 

Indooroopilly

From a limit of 20 storeys to 25, Indooroopilly will experience quite a boost in the area around the shopping centre and train station. 

Nundah 

Within Nundah Village, the 12-storey limit extends to 15 storeys.

Wynnum 

Near the central station, future structures can be built up to 15 storeys. However, this extension is restricted to large sites exceeding 2,000sq m. The inner precinct is capped at 12 storeys for sites smaller than 2,000sq m, while the outer fringes are capped at five storeys.

The Low-Medium Density Residential Zone Shakeup 

With LMR zones roughly accounting for around 14% of the city, the council has made changes to regulations to allow for much smaller lot sizes, taller builds, and terraced homes to create additional homes for the steady stream of new residents moving to Brisbane. The changes mean many new developments have a streamlined path through the approval process, bypassing some of the red tape to improve the process. However, it enforces 100% of the requirements around structural alignments, site coverage, and setbacks.

Precision Surveying 

With new high-rises cropping up and shrinking property boundaries becoming more common, accuracy has never been more important as developers reshape Brisbane’s streetscapes. A few centimetres could be enough to void your code assessment approval or spark an expensive legal problem with a neighbour.

Whether you’re capitalising on the density shift near a regional boundary or subdividing in the city, legal baselines are mandatory, and investors and developers must work with a specialist surveyor to review the official property boundaries and secure the entitlement.

If you’re looking to develop within the capital and you’re navigating tight parameters, discuss your project with the survey specialists at Surveyors Brisbane. Developing in the growth corridors of the north? Contact the survey specialists at Surveyors Moreton City and begin mapping your site constraints.